I'm a pickleball enthusiast in Berkeley, California. Despite my passion for the game, finding a comfortable and accessible place to play has been a challenge due to the scarcity of pickleball courts. Meanwhile, many tennis courts, including those at the beautiful Rose Garden, remain unused. The widely recognized game of pickleball is experiencing astonishing growth, with over 3.46 million players in the United States, as reported by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Yet, the infrastructure for this fun, social, and exciting sport remains lacking in many areas including Berkeley, CA.

While tennis is a valued sport and should still maintain its allotted courts, I believe it would be of great community benefit to allow pickleball play on the currently underutilized Rose Garden Tennis Courts. Besides providing an outlet for the rapidly growing number of pickleball players, this change would increase the use of a city asset and can encourage engagement among residents of different age groups who enjoy pickleball.

In light of the above, I am appealing to the Berkeley City Parks Department and local council members to allow pickleball play on the beautiful Rose Garden Tennis Courts. It's a simple change that could bring about significant positive results for the community.

Please sign this petition to show your support and help us all get out there and have some more pickleball fun!